Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1408: Chapter 757: Reformation 2

”So many bandits!”

”Ahhh!”

The mayor, realizing the situation was not right, hurriedly dragged his corpulent body towards the lookout tower, barely making it with the help of a lackey pushing his behind.

He secretly vowed that next time he’d build a staircase instead of this ladder.

After climbing up with difficulty, he nearly collapsed at the sight.

Normally, having ten or twenty bandits would be enough to cause trouble, as horses are harder to maintain than people.

But here, over a hundred cavalry were moving around the perimeter, cutting in from both sides, clearly intent on sealing off the entire town.

The most terrifying thing wasn’t the cavalry, but the endless troops following behind.

Their uniform equipment and relatively intact formation made their advance extremely intimidating; a few shouts and they could frighten many people to death.

”Done... done for!” The mayor froze in fear, mumbling uncontrollably, ”Why the hell is the emperor himself here?!”

As someone who had roamed outside in his youth and had some understanding of the empire, he could only think of one possible answer—it must be the imperial emperor himself.

His lackeys were just as clueless, accustomed to bullying serfs but now as timid as quails.

”Open the gates for My Lord! Kill the rebels and traitors!” A fast horse arrived at the town gate shouting, waking the mayor from his stupor.

”Open the gates! Open the gates! Open the damn gates!” The mayor shouted loudly, unable to muster any thought of resistance, quickly heading down in fear of any mishap.

Though he hadn’t heard much clearly, he caught the last part about killing and dying.

People’s potential is sometimes limitless; climbing the ladder was so difficult, but going down he moved incredibly fast, using both hands and feet, his corpulent body surprisingly nimble.

Chaos started spreading within the town, as people had no idea what was happening, scattering like headless flies.

These were ordinary people with limited choices throughout history, often silently accepting their fate, their thoughts rarely considered.

When the gates finally opened, most people witnessed the nearby military formation, and panic spread uncontrollably.

Everyone’s first instinct wasn’t to rebel, but to hide or flee.

For in this era, this world, the military was no good thing, even more terrifying than bandits.

Those outside seemed prepared; as soon as the gates opened, soldiers entered, forcibly suppressing the chaos, and under absolute power, a small town couldn’t make much of a splash before quickly submitting.

Though some tried to escape, the scouts outside weren’t idle, promptly capturing them.

If Lord hadn’t forbidden indiscriminate killing, the horses racing past might have had sabers slicing heads instead.

Soon everyone was gathered, except for a few cavalry who dumped them, with nearly everyone rounded up, including the terrified mayor.

No killings occurred, so the civilians didn’t fall into despair, just watched anxiously.

The troops meanwhile took a brief rest, even then maintaining order, their discipline shocking the mayor who’d seen nobles before.

Moments later, a carriage approached from behind.

Lance’s figure finally emerged, scanning the crowd, his gaze landing on the conspicuous mayor, reminding him of the plump one he’d dealt with initially.

The mayor noticed Lance, wanting to approach but afraid of the guarding soldiers.

Lance headed towards the crowd, followed by Grendel and Boudica, one with green hair and the other red, amusingly contrasting but unamusing in the tense situation.

No one dared laugh; the mayor hurriedly turned to warn the civilians not to disturb the important figure, fearing repercussions for himself.

His control over the town was evident as a few words frightened the civilians into silence, not daring even to glance up.

The mayor’s nervousness stemmed not from Lance’s pressure but the military’s intimidation.

Places long without control required direction once the army was at your doorstep.

”Are you the mayor here?”

”Yes, yes!” The mayor stepped forward, his face plastered with a flattering smile, freezing as Lance posed a question.

”Do you know who I am?” ℯ𝓵.

”Noble lord...”

Despite winter’s arrival, sweat beads uncontrollably formed on the fatty’s forehead.

”I am the Lord of Hamlet, the master of this land.”

To the mayor, the name Hamlet seemed magical, freezing him momentarily as his expression turned strange.

Given his age, he must’ve witnessed Hamlet’s prosperity and the catastrophic city-destroying disaster.

Hearing the name now likely stirred complex emotions.

Yet Lance gave little time to absorb the news, pressing further.

”I didn’t appoint you. How did you become mayor? If you are the mayor, why haven’t I received any taxes?”

The mayor instantly reacted, terror showing in his expression.

This area was a lawless zone; of course, he declared himself mayor, and as for taxes, they naturally went to him.

Now it’s hard to say, for who could’ve imagined Hamlet would revive...

”Report! The inventory is complete.”

A soldier quickly handed Lance a ledger, who glanced at it before passing it to the mayor, ”Check if anything’s missing.”

The mayor hesitated before accepting, confused at first, but upon seeing the contents, clutched the paper tight, pausing for a few seconds before wailing aloud.

”No, My Lord!”

He cried, his entire body trembling, nearly bouncing.

”Seemingly nothing’s missing.” Lance took back the ledger, gestured to nearby soldiers, ”Take him away.”

Two soldiers attempted to lift the mayor but failed, resorting to dragging him off.

Throughout the process, his lackeys dared not speak, hiding among the crowd, pretending to be quails.

Everyone knew the mayor was doomed, for they heard the true noble lord was far more powerful than the mayor!

Meanwhile, uniformed individuals distinct from soldiers began registering the civilians, randomly selecting many for questioning, none daring to resist.

Lance wouldn’t waste time on idle talk, awaiting the confiscation results.

He publicly subdued the mayor before the populace, both to assert authority and diminish the civilians’ fear of him.

Soon chaos arose in the ranks as bullies were singled out, some even drawing weapons in defiance.

”I still need them, don’t beat them to death.”

Lance sent Boudica, uncertain if she heard, yet she slammed her weapon into the ground, grinning viciously as she charged.

Unarmed, but facing armed, her skills vastly superior, Boudica easily toppled them as if playing with dogs, restrained enough not to kill in one blow.

Lance stood aside, watching amusedly like a monkey show...

Open readable version